Heroes

Hero, what is a hero? A person with courage, strength, courageous in acts, who risks his or her life and sacrifices himself or herself for others.

Our Wallowa County Search and Rescue people meet all of these requirements. They do not look at the clock to see if they are able to go on the emergency call; they jump up and say, “I’m needed.” They leave their families, jobs or sometimes guests, hot weather or cold, rain or snow, noon or midnight, and respond when the call “help” comes.

They are volunteers, serving or acting of his or her own free will, giving help or services without payment. They travel to meetings to learn how and why, taking the time and expense to practice the things they learn, such as repelling cliffs, water rescue, etc. All of this at their own time and expense.

The only “pay” they receive for these acts of courage and selflessness is the gratification of knowing they have done something for others who have needed them. Help is a word they do not shy from. They respond to it; they are there when and where they are needed.

Our Wallowa County Search and Rescue people are our “heroes.”

All the people who support them and fix food and do the things to help them in their endeavors are “heroes.”

Denise Douglas

Enterprise

Deserved mention

Last week I had many people call me up and tell me that I really should complain to the Chieftain over the fact that on the “Good Luck at State” page that was printed in the October 31 edition that Nicole Anderson and Julie Vernarsky were not even mentioned at all. They were mentioned in the news article that they qualified for state by placing in the top seven at districts but no mention was made of them on the “Good Luck” page … not even a “not pictured.”

I thought ‘no,’ I will not do that, I KNOW they will give them coverage of how they do at state. There is not even a mention of them at all in the article of the state results. It is a very good article concerning the EHS boys and Hayley Oveson. But these girls worked very hard to make it to state and they at least deserved to be mentioned.

J. Vernarsky

Enterprise

Editor’s note: Ms. Vernarsky raises a valid point about our coverage of the Enterprise cross-country girls. We apologize for the oversight and regret any hard feelings that may have occurred as a result. It was not our intention to leave anyone out.